Orchard heater



Oct. 28, 1941. .r F. VEGHTE ORCHARD HEATER Filed oct. 1s, 1937 (fha A TToR/VEYJ.

Patented Uct. 28, 1941 y UNiTED STATES rarelezxlvr` ffoFFlcr. I' 2,260,548v l' v A ORCHARD-,HEATER Theodore F. Yeghte, Vanluys, Calif. Y Application october 1s,1937,"ser'ia1Nc.169,573f x 1 13 claims. v(ol.'15c, '6)jv I This invention relates to heaters, and particularly to heaters which burn a gaseous fuel either supplied in that form or generated in the heater itself from liquid fuel, and which are used for heating the atmosphere in areas devoted to the culture of orchard trees crops which are damaged by low temperatures. At one time it lwas believed that such heaters to be effective must produce great quantities of smoke which 4when formed into clouds above the trees vprevented radiation of heat fromthe surface of theearth and thereby maintained during the night sufficiently high temperatures to protect the trees from frost. It is now known that this theory is erroneous. The protective effect of heaters is gained by the actual Warming of the air'near the ground above the low temperatures which would otherwise exist due to ground radiation andthe influx of heavy cold air from neighboring areas.

The air at upper levels is not so much affected bythis ground radiation and -cold airinfiux and is naturally maintained fuel burning heaters, it rises until it'meets the ,ceiling of this naturally warmer upper air, and isheld by this ceiling' from rising to higher levels andconned near the 'ground' and about the trees; The discovery of these scientic facts underlying the practical art of orchard heating has led to efforts to product a heater which would completely burn used, 'for such a heater not only yproduces the maximum 'of heat per unit of fuel consume'd,'but' also, since it gives off no unburned carbon, is smokeless and can 'be used withoutcausing damage to the upholstery and textile furnishings in houses of ythe neighborhood, or causing any other inconvenience Aor harm from contamination of the atmosphere.

It is the vobject of my invention to provide such a heater which will completely burn thereby release a maximum quantity of heat units per unit of fuel, and which will create no troubleor other agriculturaly at a. safe C temperature.` When the cold ground air is heated artificially by the hydrocarbons of the fuel the fuel and pierce the'ceiling of air of the higher levels and be lost inthe upper atmosphere, since the air above the ceiling while lighter than the ground air is heavier than the `highly heated air as it 1,3 lcomes freshfrom the heater. It is therefore anv essential 'quality of an veffective and efficient heatenthatitwarm progressively and uniformly the eritireimass of ground air so that no part of thefmasshasa Amuch greater temperature than any'other partf My heater`V causes acirculation of air which accomplishes this result. '.5

It is Y'a further'object of my invention .to proL-l vide'a yheater which shall be,- readily' lavailable when needed, easy` and simple to start'into action and to operate; will be inexpensive to. manufacture, and `vvillrequire aminimum of repairs.

.One objectzof my invention is to accomplish a high' 'degreel of gasic'ation'of liquid fuel by the use of 'ainovel and Ahighlyeiicient type of generator, which is built into and made a part of theheater. Y

' It; is also an object of this invention to provide means foricompletelyseparating the flow'of cool oxygen'-bearir'ig` air totheheater from the flow of ahotf combustiony gas a-way from the heater. Stich a yseparationlinsures ample oxygen for complete combustion :and lreduces the temperature of the heater parts, thereby minimizing oxidation the heaterisconstructed. -l

'rOther objects` andadvan'tages of 'my invention will vbe `apparentffrom the following description of one embodiment thereof and from thedrawing, inwhichzf4 1 1 1 f i f Fig; v-lv is a sideelevation, partly incross section, takenj along theline yl--I of Fig. 2.

Fig.-2'is atop plan-view. 1 Figy- `is a plan view-of a part of` an orchardequipped with heaters embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the upper portionyof the heater, showing a modified construc- 131011. `r 4 v i y Inf-the' drawing, a basejof the burner is in the form -of va circular plate Il which rests upon the ground ht;v The plate Ill is preferably upwardly concave with its central portion generally lis convertedpinto a gas `tical pipe section which is f move the separator plate Vfrom the plate I I and to as readily replace it in its proper position 1n which it is centered with respect to the plate I I.` This separator plate may be horizontal, or, as shown in the drawing, may take the form of an inverted cone of shallow d-epth, or it may be up? Wardly concave, like the plate II. While not essential to the invention, its outer .rim is prefer-- ably somewhat higher than its central portion;

The separator plate I5 is formed lwith a 'central aperture I8. A vertical draft pipe I1, open at each end and of the same diameter as the aperture I:8;, Aisweldcd or otherwise solidlyr secured at its upper end :to the separator plateein such position `that thepipe opening registers with the aperture I8. smal-ler diameter than the pipe 4I-'I.as :shown :in Fig.. 4,1111 lwhich case ythe'upper end of the.' pipe I1 is secured to the-under face ofthe plate I-5 at a'circular junction line y.disposed'outside the Or the Laperture 118 maybe of circumference of the aperture IB. VTlhe" length of pipe i1 is such that its loweryendiIS is vapproxi-- mately in the horizontal'plane .of the' outerxportions .cf' the tplateqI'I, and is an'short distance above Athat .inner portion I2 rof 'this-plate which l .1; is directly 'beneath the pipe walls. S

Liquid fuel :is :brought to the heater vthrough. 1 an underground pipe 2D, an'upright pipev 2I, .and anLabove-ground horizontal pipe section -22 in Q which is connected :a valve23efor controlling the llow of 'fuel tofthe heater. 1 ythrough an aperture 2:4 inthe supported by the base. I provide a generator Y25 which isfan endlesslpipe in lthe shape -o'f ari'ng or annulus. generator-is mountedapproxirmately in the horizontal pla'ne'of'the lower end ;ofy the .draft pipe I1 4and -surrounds and is vconcentric vwith it. The

Thepipe22 `passes plate I I and is thus portion of the generator' 25 oppositethe pipe 22 'is welded tothe upwardly extending legs v2B yof ya' U-shaped standard 21, `which is in turn bolted to conducted to the 22, the end of which is welded to thegenera't'or lat a point :28.of lits `jsuch that the interior of the pipe '22 communicates withthe interior chamber of the generator."

the pla'tenII..I 'F-u'el is generator 25`throug'h the pipe annular' length .in a `manner The liquid fuel, when-the heater is in operation, il the generator v25', 'and 1the gas thus formed is conducted' through'a ver- 29 communicating '-with' and welded to thegenerator'25 at a point 30 vdiametrically opposite the 4point; 28. The upper portion 29a ofthe .pipe 29 is curvedv inwardly to form a' 907J arc. Its horizontally disposed upper end-29hl threadedlyengages and supports a`T fitting 3I,

.provided with an upper threaded openi-ng32 and a lower threaded Aopening 33.' The AT `3'I "is disposed inor near" the vertical axis -oi they draft'pipe'4 I 1, and preferably approximately in the horizontal plane lof 'the v-upper end of1 the draftr pipe v I1.

` A The upper opening"32 ofthe T 3| is interi with 33' is'tted with a 'burner tip o r nozzle 35,; This nozzle '35 has" -a central,r downwardly `directed oriiice 36 from which, when the heateris in ,operatioinY the generated gas' issues under pressure. The draft pipe I1 is formed with a vertical slot ajplugl34, andthe lower openingY 31 extending from the plate I5 to the lower end of the pipe I1, to facilitate assembly of the upperand lower parts of the heater. 'Ihe separator plate I5 is formed with a cut-away notch 39 registering with the slot 31. The upper part of the heater comprises the rigidlyfassembled plate I5, legs I6, and draft pipe I1. The lower part of the heater comprises the rigidly assembled plate II, generator 25, the `inlet and outlet generator pipes 22 and 29, and the iltting 3I and associated parts. The slot 31 and notch 39 make it possible to lower the upper part of the heater into operative position on the lower part, the upper arc-shaped portion 29a of the pipe 29 being received by the notch 39 and slot 31 as the upper part is lowered into position. lTo close this slot 31 and prevent the admixture of air within the pipe I1 and the yair and gases without the pipe, I provide an apron 38 which is secured to and depends from the upper end portion 29h of the pipe 29, with its lower v`end approximately inthe horizontal plane of the lowerend of the Ydraft ,pipe 'I1' x In .order to secure' the best 'results from heaters of my invention, they arescattered through the'A orchard, the number of trees to each vtheater :de-

. pending upon conditions. In Fig. 3 lI have shown an illustrative installation in which each .heater is yplaced centrallyoi` four'trees. .The `heaters-.areV

supplied with fuel fromua network 29 .of Aunderground pipes. The fuel :is stored 'inza tank 40 from which the liquidfuel flows by gravity for otherwise through piping f4jI .to apump and lpres'-l sure Itank 452, from which it is forced underpressure through to the rseveral heaters.

When, because of temperature conditions in the orchard, it is desired to putv the heaters iin operation, a small amount vof priming iuel is placed on'the plate -I'I and atonce ignited. This is done Aby a starting torch such as is commonly used for this purpose in firing orchard heaters. The valve 23 is then 'opened-the desired amount. Practice in operating the heaters acquaints the operator with 'the extent of `opening required for the'production of varying amounts of heat, in accordance with varying atmospheric temperatures and conditions. The ygenerator 25, which has been heated byA the primingfuel burning in the .plate`II, converts into a gasv the liquidfuel iiowing to and through it. This Lgas is blown, 'by its pressure of generation, from the orifice 536 downwardly against "the plate vI I, and is initially ignited by flames from the burner'prim-ing `fuel on the plate II. A

After initial ignition, fromthe vorice 36 continues vto burn.' The jet combustion The nozzle 35, being a burner nozzle,

l "fuel combustion device.

I have found that the form of generator inand the other stream passing around the other side of the generator.' Gasication takes place m each of the two semi-circular sides of the the network of underground 'pipes the jet'of vgas issuing I generator` Surges of fuel are setup by the incrdental variations in generated pressure in the two generator sides, with the result that any ungasifled droplets of fuel are blownback and-forth walls, which in generators of the usual 'type accumulate in caked layers until the flow of fuel through the generator is undesirably throttled or completely stopped. I

When the generated fuel gas issues from the orifice 36 under pressure, it acts as an injector stream to induce the flow of`a current of air from above the separator plate I5 down the draft together against the plate Il, and during the movement toward and away from this plate the oxygen of the air and the hydrocarbons of the, gas are united in combustion. The burned gasesv the lowerv end are then blown outwardly under I9 of the draft pipe, and directed substantially horizontally and radially outwardlyv rection, heating the generator in their travel.` The levels of air near the ground are heated, and this heated air lesser density.

above the heater and flow through the draft pipe I1to the combustion area over the plate ll'l. The separator plate l5 Vaccompli hes several benecial results. A horizontally extended area of ground air is warmed, instead of a small vertical columnof upper air over the heater. A widely diffused slow circulation of' air is set up in the atmospheric spaces under? the ceiling The plate I5 also separatesv sharply the inflow of cold oxygen-bearing air from the outflow of hot burner gases, "This separationv prevents a temperature build-up, which 'would'be inevitable should some of the h ot gases "find/'their thedraft pipe around the outerY edges of the separator plate. To insure` found that the separator plate I have eter not less than fourland; preferably, five times that of its central aperture. This separation also' which.v

insures an adequate supply ofwoxygen, would. not be the case. should the carrying eapacity of the draft pipe be partly taken up Awith non-oxygen-bearing gases of-combustio'n.,l vI claim as my invention:

1. In an orchard heater adapted to be-.pos-` tioned on theground in an orchard, 'the combination of: a substantially horizontal plate with a central aperture, said separator plate being mounted to constitutewhen in assembled operative position the top wall of an annular chamber which is open`to the atmosphere lying laterally beyond and to the atmosphere above andlaterally beyond the outer peripheral edge of said separator plate; a vertical draft pipe',

depending from said separatorplate and communicating through said, aperture withrthe air above said plate; a fuel combustion device adapted to provide a movement of combustion gases adjacentthe lower end ofsaid draft prpeyand means cooperable with said separator plate for therefrom asv liquid particles,

The fuel gas and air lmove downwardbegins to'rise slowly due toits :.r Cold air continues toaccumulatev separator lying draft pipe; and a tioned on the annular chambenwhieh 'is open directingv the lgases of combustion radially outward through said annular chamber beneath said separatorplate to positions beyond the periphery of said platev where Said products are free to rise vertically past said plate. -2.l-In an'orchard-heater adapted to be positionedon the'ground iny an orchard,` the combination ofza substantially horizontal separator plate Awith ja central aperture, fsaid separator platebeing mounted -to constitute when in assembled operative position the top wall of an annular Vchamber which is open tothe atmosphere lying laterally beyond `and to the atmosphere lying above and laterally beyond the outer peripheral edge'of said separator plate; a vertical draft pipe depending from said separator plate and communicating through said aperture with thea'ir above said plate; a source of gaseous fuel; a downwardly directed nozzle connected to said source and disposed within said draft pipe; and a horizontally arranged combustion plate mounted beneath the lower end of said draft pipe Aand lin vertically spaced relationship with the lower end of said draft-pipe.

3. In an orchard heater adapted to be positioned on thejground in an orchard, the combination of: a substantially horizontal separator plate with a -central aperture of a diameter not.

greater than one-fourth the diameter of said separa-tor plate, said separator plate being mounted to constitute when in assembled operative position the top wall of an annular chamber 4which is open to the atmosphere lying laterally beyond and to the atmosphere lying above and laterally beyondthe outer peripheral edge of said separator plate; a vertical draft pipe depending from saidseparator plate and communicating through said aperture with theV open air above said plate; a fuel combustion device adapted to provide a movement of combustion gases adjacent the lo'wer end of said draft pipe; and means cooperable with said separY tor plate fordirecting the gases of combustion radially outward through said annular chamber beneath said separator plate to positions beyond the periphery of said plate f. ative position the top wall of an annular chamberA which is open ally v beyond and and laterally beyond the outer peripheral edge of saidjseparato-r plate; a vertical draft pipe depending from said'separator plate and communicatingfthrough sai'daperture with the open air above saidplate; a sourceof gaseous fuel; a downwardly directed nozzle connected to said source and'disposed centrally with respect to said rto the `atmosphere` lying latertion plate mounted beneath the said draft pipe and in vertically spaced relationship with the lower end of said draft pipe.

5. In an orchard heater adapted to be posiground 'in an'orchard, the combination of: a Asul'lstantia'lly horizontal separator plate with a central"aperture,` said separator plate being mounted tov constitute when in assembled operative'position the top wall of an to the' atmosrespect pto being in removable `relationship with said source l and nozzle.

i tally arranged phere lying laterally beyond and to the atmosfpherel-ying above and laterallyfbeyond the'outer` peripheral ,edgeaofasaid separator plate; avertical draft `pipe depending from -said separator plate and communicating' through said aperturel withfthe open air above said plateya source gof liquid gfuel; a'gasifying `generator ,connected to said sourcepand disposedgoutside of said draf-tl pipe. .and .adjacentits lower Vend; a downwardly directed nozzle connected ,to said generator and disposedvcentrally With respect to said draft pipeiY and V1a horizontally arranged combustion plate mounted beneath .the lower endA of said draft pipe and in vertically spaced relationship with the lower end of lsaid draft pipe.

y6.In an orchard lheater adapted to be positioned'on the ground 5inf an orchard, the combination of: a baSeinclud-ing .acircular combustion Mate; standards mounted upon the base; a circular, substantially horizontal separator plate with .ga central aperture, said separator ,plate beingsupported upon :said standards above and concentrica'lly with respect to said .combustion l plate and in removable relationship to said com` bustion plate, said `separator plate being mounted to constitute when in assembled operative position the top vwall of an annular chamber which is openvto the atmosphere lying laterally beyond and tothe atmosphere lying above and laterally beyond the outer peripheral edge of said separator; plate; a vertical draft pipe carried by and depending from said separator plate and communicating through said aperture with the `open air above said plate and with its lower end spaced.

a source vof gaseous g above 'said combustion plate; fuel; and a 4downwardly directed nozzle connected to said source and disposed centrally with said-draft pipe, said Separator plate '7. In an orchard heater :adapted to be posistandards position the top Wall .of Van to theA atmos- 1phere lying above and laterally beyond the outer peripheral edge of said separator plate; ;a vertical draft pipe carried by and depending from said separator plate and communicating through said aperture with theopen air above said plate and with its lower end spaced above said combustion plate; a sourcevof liquid fuel; a generatormounted above said combustion plate and connected with said source ofl liquid fuel; and a downwardly directed burner nozzle connected to said generatorand disposed centrally with respect to said draft pipe, saidseparator plate being in removable relationship with said Source and nozzle. ,l

l 8. In an orchard yheater adapted to be positioned on the ground in an orchard, the combination of: a base includinga circular, horizonpermanently mounted on said base; a downwardly directed burner nozzle permanently mounted on vsaid base and communicating with combustion plate; .a generator said generator; rator plate with'agcentral aperture, said ksepa-k plate, said separator plate being mounted to con-- stitute whenin assembled operative position the; top Wall of anannular chamber ,which is open.. to the atmosphere lying laterally beyond and to the atmosphere lying above and laterally beyond the outer peripheral edge of said separator plate.;

tion plate, ily removably mounted upon said base.y y

9. In an orchard heaterv adapted tor be posi-l tioned on the ground in an orchard, `the Icombination of: a substantially horizontal :separator platel having a central aperture, said separator plate being .mounted to constitute when in assembledgoperative position the top wall of anr annular `chamber which is open to the atmosphere lying laterally beyond anni phere lying above andlaterally beyondthe outer peripheral edge of said separator plate; a vertical draft pipe mounted below said plate and with its axis passing approximately through the cenground, said directing kmeans serving to prevent direct vertical communicating l plate; a generator' lsaid base; conduit means for connecting said generator with a fuel whereby saidr separator plate lisreadto the atmos-l phere lying above and laterally beyond the outer peripheral edge of said separator plate; a draft pipe rigidly secured to said separator plate in position to communicate through said aperture with the open air above said separator plate and to surround said nozzle, and having its lower end vertically spaced above said combustion plate, said conduit section extending radially beyond said draft pipe, and said separator plate and draft pipe being slotted in vertical alignment with said conduit section; and an apron depending from said conduit section in position to close the slot in said draft pipe, whereby said separator plate is readily removably mounted upon said base.

l2. In an orchard heater adapted to be positioned on the ground in an orchard, the combination of a source of vaporized fuel, a burner orifice connected to said source, means for guiding air from the atmosphere adjacently above said heater, and which is relatively near the ground, centrally downward to points within the heater, and means for directing the heated products of combustion radially outward from the vertically central portions of said heater in a substantially horizontal direction into the atmosphere lying laterally beyond the periphery of the heater and in contact with the ground, said guiding means serving to prevent direct vertical communicating contact of the atmosphere adjacently above the heater and the heated atmosphere lying between the guiding means and the ground,

whereby the heater is adapted to draw downward relatively cold air from a relatively low air level, to heat said relatively cold air, and propel it radially outward with respect to the vertically central portions of the heater into diffused relationship with the air .immediately adjacent the ground, and whereby the air mixture so formed is free to rise and in turn become diffused with the air at said relatively low air level and air at levels thereabove.

13. In an orchard heater adapted to be positioned on the ground in an orchard, the combination of a substantially horizontal separator plate having a central aperture; means for mounting said plate above the ground to provide a chamber beneath the plate open to the atmosphere lying laterally beyond and to the atmos-r phere lying above and laterally beyond the outer peripheral edges of said plate; means comprising a gaseous fuel supply means and burner orice therefor for drawing air downwardly through said aperture into said chamber; and means in said chamber disposed to receive said air and burned fuel from said orice and deflect them horizontally outward in all directionsI in said chamber, said means for drawing the air downward being constructed to apply a velocity head thereto suflicient to cause it to travel substantially beyond the peripheral edges of said plate, where it is free to rise vertically past said plate.

THEODORE F. VEGHTE. 

